TV Review: House, M.D. – “Office Politics”

Confrontation: candidate vs. candidate; candidate vs. campaign manager; Foreman (Omar Epps) vs. Taub (Peter Jacobson); House (Hugh Laurie) vs. a new staff member—and Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein). Everything is about perception and the truth is often only a means to an end, unless it doesn’t serve your purpose. House, M.D.’s sixth entry in the still-young season seven is a breath of fresh air offered just after the insane political season just past.

“Office Politics” is much about cause and effect, action and consequence. What does it mean to win? To lose? In other words: politics. The episode begins by taking a jab at the negative 2010 political climate and the pervasive politics of fear that has gripped our country this political season when Joe Dugan (Jack Coleman), a Rove-ian political director proposes using a scurrilous and untrue attack ad in a hard fought U.S. Senate race.

It may win the election for his candidate, but the candidate is reluctant to run it—not because it’s unethical, but because it might galvanize the opposition. In politics, the road to a win is paved with all sorts of dubious ethical choices. It’s not how you play the game, but whether you win or lose. It’s cynical, and certainly appears to be true in this era, but is it really true?

The patient story in “Office Politics” sets the candidate and his campaign manager against each other. Although he claims not to like the attack ad, the candidate leaks the ad and blames his sick campaign manager. The candidate can remain clean, and although it crucifies his chief adviser, Dugan appreciates the act for the pure politics of it. It will be effective, so who cares why? Does the unfairness of it matter if the consequences fall on the wrong guy?

The conflict between truth and lies is a common theme on House, played out over more than six seasons. House views lies as an often necessary means to learn a necessary truth. If he doesn’t lie, his patient might die. (At least, that what he believes.) And in “Office Politics” it’s hard to disagree with him in the end.

Dugan has contracted Hepatitis C and his physiology is lying about it, concealing the disease’s usual symptoms. And ironically, it is only by giving him an 85 percent fatal case of Hepatitis A that Dugan stands a chance at survival.

But the fatality rate is too high and Cuddy refuses to allow him to do it without absolutely confirming the Hep C. House cheats the system and lies to Cuddy to get the needed (albeit faked) result he needs to satisfy her. In the end, he will likely pay for the lie personally; he’s involved with Cuddy and lying to her takes on a different meaning entirely. The consequences are likely to reverberate in one way or another well into the next several episodes.

Into this mix of truth and lies, politics and medicine, Cuddy thrusts the young Martha Masters. On House’s case for weeks to hire a female staff member, she believes the diagnostics team is too heavily scented with eau de “sausage fest.”

The department needs a feminine touch to offset the aroma, and although House claims that he’s tried (and failed) to find a suitable candidate for the female chair in his department, Cuddy has adroitly taken the decision from House’s hands. Martha Masters is a third-year medical student, socially clueless as she is brilliant. She’s as versed in the humanities as she is in science, but I don’t want to cover ground I’ve already trod earlier this week.

So how does throwing a young, naïve, socially awkward girl genius change the dynamics of House’s world? Ms. Masters (she’s not a doctor yet) operates by a rigid moral code. She really doesn’t care that House fires her for her ethics (he does repeatedly) and she refuses to be bullied by him. After a brief awe-struck teenager moment in House’s magnificent presence, she begins to see how he operates.

Masters respects (and is still in awe of) House, she doesn’t let that affect her moral stand—whether it concerns breaking into the patient’s home or eliciting truly informed consent from the patient Dugan about the life and death decisions before him. To Masters, how you play the game does count, no matter the outcome—even if the outcome means the death of a patient. She is the anti-House. And the tension (none of it sexual) between them is fantastic.

Although I loved the dynamics between all the regular characters and Masters in “Office Politics,” the interactions between House, Cuddy and the new recruit are stellar. Director Sanford Bookstaver and writer Seth Hoffman do a great job of keeping the tension between all three characters, and Amber Tamblyn as Masters more than holds her own against powerhouse actor Laurie.

Masters really gets under House’s skin, enough that he feels compelled to argue his case to her in front of the fellows. He doesn’t call her an idiot or stupid—or even naïve. But he can’t understand how someone so intelligent isn’t as willing as he is to find the flexibility in ethical rules. Although he keeps firing her, he continually seeks her input, despite what he might say.

Masters fairly shocks House by fearlessly confronting even Cuddy, calling her a coward for refusing to take the risks necessary to save their patient’s life. “We shouldn’t compromise patient care to avoid law suits,” she argues, with words that might just have easily emerged from House’s mouth. He is stunned yet admiring—at least while she’s arguing his side of the controversy. But whether her fearlessness is out of principle or not knowing any better (terrible office politics to tick off the boss’ boss—especially when she’s on your side) remains to be seen.

Giving Dugan Hep A, argues House, will save his life—maybe; but there’s an 85 percent chance it will kill him. So, of course, Cuddy wants proof—proof that is impossible to get from this patient. But because Dugan has acquired his Hep C infection from Senator Anderson, House does know where he can get evidence. But evidence will not be adequate to make his case honestly. But since when has that stopped House?

Of course, the hitch is that he and Cuddy are now romantically now, and that hugely alters the dynamics between them. In the pre-“Huddy” days, life was simpler for House. He would have simply ignored her—or faked a test result to prove his point. But there’s a new variable in the equation: What will Cuddy think? More importantly, What will Cuddy do?

It bothers House sufficiently that he consults Wilson and then broods upon it alone in his office. He knows what his principles dictate, but what will it cost personally? Will he sacrifice what he believes to please Cuddy? And what if the patient dies? Unsurprisingly, House decides to prove to himself that Dugan has Hep C by testing candidate Anderson under an assumed name: Dugan’s. If Anderson has it, so does Dugan. Point proven—but only to himself.

To get Cuddy to sign off, House lies to her, compounding it when she compliments him on his newfound trustworthiness. It’s clear from House’s face that he feels terrible, but House’s principles trump his love. (And I can imagine the uproar in the fan community had he decided to be politic about it and honest with Cuddy.)

Now having permission from Cuddy, House has to convince Dugan to go along with a treatment that has a 15 percent chance of success and an 85 percent chance of killing him. He sends Masters to do the job.

With House observing, Masters tries to explain the treatment and get his consent. House would have also told him the truth, but left him little choice. But Masters uses a tactic that House would never have employed. She reveals the professional risk House has taken to get to the truth of Dugan’s condition. “He could lose his license.” It’s a tactical decision that risks her job—but House’s career if Dugan chooses to expose him. She offers House to win the patient’s confidence—to win. Just as Senator Anderson offers up Anderson as the sacrificial lamb for his victorious campaign.

Obviously there’s no moral equivalence here, only a subtle parallel. House leaves Masters with little choice; she takes a risk—and wins. “You hired me because you like my principles.” Principles vs. skirting them. House vs. Masters. I like it! I love this character.

The dynamics between Masters and each of her colleagues are also interesting. Chase is amused by her and indifferent to her intelligence. He knows that House will crush her; Foreman likes her and views her as the only one who isn’t a frog in pot of boiling water. She’s unaffected by House, as in awe as she is, and Foreman (like we) find that refreshing. Taub takes an immediate dislike to her, but there’s a reason. Foreman thinks that she makes Taub feel old. But scrappy, short, Taub teaches Foreman a little about basketball. But I think the dynamics within House’s new team will be fun to watch. I like what Masters (and Tamblyn’s portrayal) bring to Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital.

But what about House and Cuddy’s dynamic going forward from “Office Politics?” By episode’s end, Cuddy learns that House has not only directly gone against her orders, but he’s lied about it to her. Cuddy is hurt and feeling betrayed. And she should.

I will only tell you that this issue is not dropped by next week’s episode and even beyond (I’ve seen next week’s episode and will preview it over the weekend.) Cuddy had never expected House to be honest in the past, and I have to wonder had he not lied to her with such false sincerity, whether she would be anywhere as hurt? Lisa Edelstein really sold that scene; I wonder where it will eventually lead.

House’s betrayal of Cuddy’s trust is indefensible. House is wrong to betray Cuddy’s trust and he deserves to suffer some sort of consequences for his actions. I don’t think it will lead to a break up, but it will shade and frame their relationship going forward.

What do you think? Did you like Masters? How will the team’s dynamics change? What happens when (or if) “13” returns to the fold? And what’s ahead for House and Cuddy? Your thoughts below!

About Barbara Barnett

Barbara Barnett is publisher and executive editor of Blogcritics, as well as a noted entertainment writer. Author of Chasing Zebras: The Unofficial Guide to House, M.D., her primary beat is primetime television.
But Barbara writes on an everything from film to politics to technology to all things pop culture and spirituality. She is a contributor to the book called Spiritual Pregnancy (Llewellyn Worldwide, January 2014) and has a story in Riverdale Ave Press' new anthology of zombie romance, Still Hungry for your Love. She is hard at work on what she hopes will be her first published novel.

Okay, Cuddy gets hurt. However, this is tit for tat. She manipulates him to get Masters on the team, why is she then surprised he manipulates her? At least he signed off on the final report instead of letting Masters take the fall (and fallout).

Barbara barnett

True. But it’s not equivalent. The hurt is from him lying that he didn’t lie.

Barbara barnett

True. But it’s not equivalent. The hurt is from him lying that he didn’t lie.

dejune117

Just a little correction. Writer of the episode is Seth Hoffman.

Linda

Great episode! i enjoyed it as always, looking forward to the next episode

Barbara barnett

Dejune- thanks. I will make that correction.

HouseMDFan

Yes, I do like Masters! It’s a bit difficult to say something after only one episode, but the character has potential and I will be happy to learn more about her in the upcoming episodes. Foreman was certainly right, they (and we) are so used to House’s ways that a fresh perspective is a good thing. I have seen some comparisons to Cameron on other sites, but I didn’t like them. Anyone have any thoughts on that?

House’s betrayal of Cuddy’s trust is indefensible.

The problem is that Cuddy can’t have it both ways. Either he changes or he doesn’t. She connected his “compliance” to do the test with his existent or lacking “respect” for her (which is wrong even regarding the past) and with his “change” that she said she didn’t want. If she hadn’t done that, they could have kept the whole incident on a more professional level and she wouldn’t have gotten as hurt as she did. It’s not all his fault, she is equally responsible.

marykir

I’m not sure how I feel about this episode or Masters. There were things about the episode I liked, and Amber Tamblyn did a fine job with the material she had to work with. (Her delivery of the last “I’m fired” bit was perfect…) But 2 minutes of House struggling with his own conscience was more compelling than 30 minutes of Masters’ struggle with House’s approach to medicine. While House’s approach is new to Masters, it’s not new to viewers. And I never really felt like House’s thinking about the case was thrown off balance by Masters, as it was by his feelings for Cuddy’s probable reaction.

At the moment, Masters feels like a cross between early Cameron and Temperance Brennen (from “Bones”) rather than something fresh. Hopefully she’ll be more interesting once she’s not the focus of the episodes.

Barbara barnett

HouseMD Fan- I agree that Cuddy shouldn’t have trusted that house was being honest. And house should have fesssed up.

bluehue

As always, thanks for your “fair & balanced” review. Oh good, “keep fear alive.” Will House & Cuddy break up or make up when this lie shakes out? It’s so unlike House. Ha.

I guess we are moving past The Way We Were of their sweet loving phase & “O P” cuts a new kind of tension into the air that’s not just sexual, it’s ever more complicated & invested. The politician ratted out his campaign manager yes, & I’m probably way off..but the only type of “moral” equivalency that popped into my mind flew back to this time last season. Talk about motives for faking a blood test. What if House ratted out Chase for Dibala to take Cuddy heat off himself in reverse?
We watched an agonized House lying flat on his carpet questioning his lie, but he resolved to stay true to himself not to her. His false “sincerity” seemed the most troubling, but the risk of his patient dying, more risky. Nothing new but the girl(s) in his life.

BTW, I like the name “Martha Masters,” it fits her like a surgical glove. It’s great that you reminded us that House did not call her an idiot or stupid, (just assumed he did). I can’t wait to understand why she takes the moral high ground like it’s her own personal battlefield.

HouseMDFan

Barbara – I’m not saying that she shouldn’t have trusted him, she might have done that even before they got together. I’m saying that she shouldn’t have taken it personally and attributed so much meaning (respect, change) to it, because she shouldn’t expect him to compromise his medical principles for a relationship. To quote Wilson from “The Greater Good”: What he does is who he is. And it works for him. And the hospital in extension.

RobF

How long until House calls her “Eminem… inem”?

I was really not into this season, until this episode. The new character and the House/Cuddy tension (real, this time) made this a very good episode, and give me hope for the season.

They threw in a hint of Foreman character development, which would be most welcome. And they also took a welcome break from the tacked-on “why is Chase dating a string of hoes? is he sad?” sub-plot.

Isabelle

I totally agree with marykir’s comment,
“But 2 minutes of House struggling with his own conscience was more compelling than 30 minutes of Masters’ struggle with House’s approach to medicine”

While I agree that Masters is a breath of fresh air, I feel that Season 7 has not done a good enough job of providing insight into House’s mind. Perhaps they are more focused on showing the outward manifestations of House’s situation (interaction with Cuddy, with the team, with Masters), but I think that some of the most compelling scenes in the series has consistently come from those short scenes in which the viewer sees House pondering/grappling/avoiding issues in solitude. Personally, I think that’s why his laying on the carpet and mulling things over was so compelling.

Cuddy’s hurtfulness at the end was unsettling because, while Cuddy’s hurt may not have been rational, that may have been the point of having the scene in the first place.
When you are in love with someone, your reactions are not always rational. Cuddy may know that she should/cannot be mad at House for being who he is, but, she can’t help being hurt because, in relationships that cross the boundaries between the professional and romantic, it is very difficult to set a different level of trust for the respective relationships.
Sure, it makes sense rationally, but can trust really be “segregated” when it’s directed at one person???

I’m interested to see where the writers go with this.

This is a complete aside, but, for some reason, (I think the House-Cuddy relationship is a natrual progression, don’t get me wrong), I miss the previous seasons of flirtatiousness between House and Cuddy. Now they seem to make crude yet funny remarks about their sex life most of the time, but I miss the implied flirtatiousness of body language, suggestive eye contact, etc.

Delia_Beatrice

Great review, as ever, Barbara. Looking forward to your preview on “A Pox On Our House”, i am very intrigued by that episode.

On Masters: i definitely agree she has potential as a character and as a chalenger of ideas that House respects. However, I am not fully seduced by her by now – some aspects of her character seemed a bit too caricatural to me. Just a personal opinion.

On House and Cuddy: i agree with HouseMD Fan (#8 and #11). Two major “promises” to their relationship were made in the beginning: that she doesn’t expect him to change & that they will both fight hard to keep their personal and professional lives as separate as possible.

I understand that it’s hard for a woman in love to become schizoid about the trust she puts in her loved one: trust the man you love, but keep your defences up to the man you work with. However, i believe this dichotomy is necessary for their relationship to work and for House to keep being the doctor he is – whom, by the way, she admires immensely.

I think this was a necessary change from the first phase of their relationship, in which House’s fears pushed him to dissolve himself into her and the relationship, even losing his identity at times. It took an important stake (a patient’s life) to shake him out of that phase and, despite his great fear of losing her, he chose to stay true to the one thing that defines him more than anything: doing what he views as the RIGHT thing.
Which, by the way, is a great thing he and Cuddy have in common. If anyone can understand how he functions, it’s her. I understand why she got hurt, but she has to make the effort not to invest the inevitable professional issues with such deep personal meaning.

On 13: i miss her A LOT. If there was to be a choice, i would most certainly go with 13 over Masters. To keep them both on the team: really not sure about that:(

On the team dynamic: i liked it better than in previous episodes, Masters will at least shake things up in the rather frozen team scenes we’ve had this season.
I really like the comic potential (unexpected, for me, before “Lockdown”) of Taub and Foreman.

I loved the timid return of the famous and much loved Huddy banter and bickering. House has gained some confidence in their relationship, it’s visible in how he is himself more – even daring to tease and mock his lady in the good old fashioned way.

And we got a tiny glimpse of clinic duty – God, i am tired of screaming at the sky: just bring clinic duty back, PLEASE!!!!!

Heather

Barbara,

I have to disagree with you that House’s lying was “indefensible”.

Cuddy set up the black/white prove “he has Hep C or he’s not getting treatment” dichotomy.

If anything, Cuddy is sabotaging and lying to HERSELF. She is the one who told House she didn’t want him to change. So, he didn’t. He still did whatever he had to do to save his patient.

Yet, she set up a situation in which House was forced to lie (thus upsetting her) or to change (thus doing what she protests she doesn’t want him to do.)

Cuddy, like so many other people, is setting herself up for disappointment in relationships by professing one thing and wanting another.

Delia_Beatrice

@Heather (#15): i know what you mean, but i wouldn’t be so harsh on her. Cuddy is a control seeking narcissist, a very insecure woman. I assume that the reason why she jumped straight to the idea of “respect” is that all the years of being the boss of an uncontrollable man have put a mark on her. Deep down, she must have harbored a lot of fear and frustration because of that, but she managed to enable him and give him enough support & limits to do his job right.

More layers of fear have added up to that, due to their personal relationship now. So i think she kinda gave in to the illusion that she can control House, which made her feel reassured. Truth is, his behavior so far points to that being true, but he was obviously not himself – which i think she knows, but she, too, is confused and emotional.

Based on six seasons of deeds, i would say that Cuddy did mean what she said. “I don’t want you to change” doesn’t mean that she’ll never be hurt by what he does. It just means that after she processes her pain, she’ll understand and she’ll accept.

One very important thing to take into account: what we know so far is that she got hurt (understandably). We don’t know what she does about it. However, i don’t, in any way, view this as a potential deal-breaker. It’s a problem they can overcome.

Orange450

Barbara, thanks for a great review!

I enjoyed the episode, even though I didn’t feel that much new ground was being tread, with similar themes and ideas having been dealt with in previous seasons.

If we know nothing else about House by now – and I think we know quite a bit – we know that House will stop at nothing in pursuit of a cure for his patient. I honestly think that Cuddy has no reason to believe otherwise. Especially after his disastrous attempts to “moderate” his MO for her sake, earlier in the season, precipitated their air-clearing conversation in “Selfish”.

When House believes he is medically in the right, personal considerations don’t bear on him. Last night, I was reminded of the way he insisted on waiting out his leg in Three Stories, in the face of all other input, including input from the woman he loved very much at the time.

I’m looking forward with great interest to see how House and Cuddy deal with this impasse. Talk about the irresistable force meeting the unmovable object!

One thing struck me – at the end, when House tells Martha how he is looking forward to the time that she wants to lie to patients. I don’t believe him. I think that as much as it hampers him, he values Martha’s youthful idealism, which may remind him of his own. And I think that if and when that day comes, House will be genuinely sorry – in a nostalgic sort of way, of course

http://idontcareish.livejournal.com/ Jacksam4eva

I haven’t had time to read all the comments but I’ve a lot of people say that at the end of that episode, Cuddy is feeling betrayed and… I kind of have a problem with that.

I think it’s more disappointment than betrayal. I think that at first, she really did not want him to change but he actually was the one to make her believe her had changed. HE insisted on spending time with Rachel, HE tried to do just as she said and separate their work from their relationship, HE tried to find activities they both enjoy, HE agreed on giving up his masseuse and I think that what really hurt Cuddy in this ep was that she actually did believe all that. The look on face tells us she also blames herself, probably wonders “how could I be so f****** stupid ? What bothers her is not that he lied to her face just that day but that they haven’t been honest with each other for two months.

Barbara barnett

I am computeless at the moment and will be back online tonight. This is a great discussion. I will chime in later.

jaime

house is gonna break her..

janine

@HouseMDFan
WIle I do think Cuddy was a little naive for not thinking he could be lying, i can understand why she was so hurt. He not only went against her, but blatently lied to her face and never fessed up (once the tretment started working he could have said something). Besides, even though she said she didn’t want him to change doesn’t mean that she didn’t have some hope inside of her that he would anyway that just died.
@Jacksom4eva
totally agree with EVERYTHING you said. He did make the effort, so why would Cuddy think he would decieve her so.

I liked the episode a lot, althogh it was clear that is was intnded as a set up for Masters character s well as for the House/Cuddy conflice, both of which I am looking foward to very much. Can’t wait for your preview!

As a woman in a relationship, I completely understand Cuddy’s hurt, but rationally, (after she processes as someone mentions), she should resolve to give House credit for his integrity. Yes, integrity, altho he lied to her. But this is one of the most unselfish acts that I’ve seen come out of House as he sacrificed his personal needs/wants to save a life. Yes, we’ve seen him go above and beyond and break a few rules medically in the pass, but he visibly was torn with his decision this time. This was one of the first times he was emotionally vested in one of his crazy medical stunts. He sacrificed his need for what he felt was right. At the end of day, Cuddy has to respect that, but she also has the right to be bitter, if only temporarily.

PS- did any else enjoy the slap on the behind Cuddy gave House??? I gotta tell you, I did!

Andrea

I said somewhere else that I think this was House’s “I could not love thee dear so much, loved I not honor more” moment. This is also Cuddy’s moment to show she means what she says. House just did one of the things that makes him “the most incredible man (Cuddy) has ever known.” He will always put the life of his patient first, even if he has to lie (to her), cheat (her) and steal (from her) to do it. That’s his peculiar brand of honor. Can she live with that and shift her thinking so she understands that she simply cannot trust him when it comes to work and always has to be on the lookout for his tricks? She made the mistake of bringing their personal relationship into the workplace here and didn’t really give him a choice, given who he is. If Cuddy can’t deal with that, she probably should have kept Lucas. I don’t think for a moment it means House loves her any less.

I love everything about Martha Masters and I’d love to see them keep her and get rid of Thirteen.

rrennie

Thanks for continuing your lovely reviews, Barbara. After reading all the comments, I agree the most with Heather’s point above – Cuddy set up an impossible dichotomy with no middle ground. I think that was well said.

And I’d love to hear more from you, Barbara, about the real hurt being about House lying about lying. How do you tell the truth about lying?… I saw the act and the varbiage as the same act. Moreover, I feel like he tried to skirt lying to her face. His line, “We’ve come a long way, baby,” was vague and not explicitly responding to her point. Moreover, after watching his lengthy deliberation over the decision, he HAS come a long way.

CarolynP

Thanks for your review as always Barbara.

I enjoyed this episode though Cuddy being portrayed as that hurt at the end was off.

She knows he lies, to patients/patients relatives etc etc but now they are in a relationship he shouldn’t lie to her to save his patient just because she said no? She of all people knows he will do whatever it takes to save his patient and if he didn’t he wouldn’t be House. I find this very strange seen as she stated she didn’t want him to change and him breaking/bending the rules to get his results (as long as her ass is saved) seems to be one of her attractions to him. Potentially she could get a lawsuit from this but I don’t think her nurse/assistant/best buddy would say anything so her ass is pretty much covered.

IMO part of her satisfaction in this relationship is her thinking she has finally controlled him hence the little gloat about having to work late to do paperwork and the ass slap to show she thinks she has him whipped so I am glad to see House has finally retaliated a little.

Don’t get me wrong I do like the pairing and believe they share a great love for one another but they are not really being true to themselves so this revelation will hopefully establish where the show are taking them, now they are finally past the honeymoon stage and I am looking forward to it.

I am liking the new addition of Martha Masters, as somebody else said above (and Foreman) we are so used to seeing House use all these unethical ways of getting his answers that we are used to it and hardly blink an eye so I think she will be great in highlighting the unethical to what we now perceive as normal.

Who’s betting House goes to prison at the end of this season??…..only kidding, it’s too early to tell : )

hwl40

Thanks, Barbara, so many connections I didn’t see but which make the episode even more enjoyable when I watch it again.

RobF

I really loved seeing House’s ethics, which the team (and we viewers) have been taking for granted lately, examined from the point of view of someone from outside.

So much of it was brilliant. We saw the politicians who disregard ethics completely for self-serving reasons, House who disregards ethics in order to help the patient, and then MMM, who insists on ethics without being preachy or whiny.

There were two scenes that brought out the real issue. In the first, when Martha refuses to accept breaking ethical guidelines for the patient’s good, House tells her his theory that ethical rules are to be followed by ordinary people who are too stupid to make decisions for themselves. This is essentially the moral outlook of Raskolnikov in Crime & Punishment, and it is very difficult to counter this position logically. Why shouldn’t the most capable members of society be freed from rules that only prevent them from doing the best they can?

The one obvious response is that, if you ask people whether they consider themselves to be in the herd or among the elite, you will find the group who consider themselves elite to be larger than you suspect is actually the case.

Martha knows this, and knows that designating oneself as elite means taking power over others without their consent. When House makes a decision on behalf of a patient, he never tells the patients that they had a choice. In the second main scene exploring this ethos, Martha shocks House by telling the patient the truth, including how House has broken the law. This puts House in the power of the patient, and we see that House does not enjoy the feeling one bit.

Martha is no Cameron, and would certainly have known what she was doing in this scene. This episode presented a very consistent treatment of her character — seemingly submissive, but that is only in social settings. In other areas, her character is very strong and she will not be swayed by authority or experience, only by argument.

It is curious that a previous comment misused the word “schizoid”, because Martha is very likely moderately schizoid, which is why she didn’t remember having spent an hour face-to-face with Taub. She would likely remember every salient point of their interview for years, but would have been unable to pick him out of a police lineup a week later.

SCLove

“House’s betrayal of Cuddy’s trust is indefensible.”

I couldn’t disagree with this statement more. He lied to save the life of a patient. His lie may delve into the “shades of gray” areas that Cuddy fears, but it had a purpose and the outcome of his lie was positive for his patient. Cuddy knows who House is and honestly, I felt the last scene was off because she shouldn’t expect more from House. Lying and manipulating to serve himself and the life of his patients is who he is.

That said, I love Huddy angst and I’m all for a little drama in the upcoming episodes. Bring it on!

Andrea

I’d have used “face blind” as the term for Martha, which may be the same thing. I’m not up on psych terms. I’d bet she’s a character who lives in her head and is hyper-focused on whatever she’s thinking about at the time. She’s capable of remembering facts she considers important, but she wouldn’t consider it all that important to focus on what the interviewer looks like or remember faces. That’s a fairly common trait with Asperger’s, which Amber Tamblyn thinks the character has.

I wonder if it was Chase or Foreman who tipped her off to what was bugging Taub, because I don’t think she did remember him.

Sera G

Thanks, Barbara, another excellent review and summary.
Only a few things from me:
1. I really liked Amber Tamblyn. I enjoyed her bright mind combined with a refreshing innocence. While I love the team, they are cynical and used to House’s ways. It was fun to see someone shocked that they would break into the patient’s home or lie to him. That was our reaction the first season. She (we?) are viewing him through fresh eyes.
2. I can certainly understand Cuddy’s hurt and feelings of betrayal. Yes, she knows he will do anything to save a patient and that he has lied to her in the past, but I felt she believes he sees her in a different light and understands the pressures and demands of her job, now that they are together. I hope TPTB aren’t already planting seeds of trouble this early. There is bound to be conflict and two such strong people will not settle quietly and easily, but it would be a shame to destroy what they have worked so hard to achieve. I hope that this is used to bring more openness and honesty.
Looking forward to rewatching and next week.

Jaim

I liked Masters more than I thought I would. I hope she doesn’t get involved with anyone romantically. She is a quarky delight all on her own. If she remains when Thirteen is back I hope for some female bonding because this show has always lacked positive female relationships. I want them to be friends and allies.
As for the Cudddy/House betrayal, I think she was hurt because the nice balance she thought they had mastered since beginning the love affair has actually shifted. The shift is going back to how things worked between them when they were just boss/employee, but the difference is that now they are more than that. I think she feels like a bucket of cold water was thrown on her and she is finally waking up to the real tribulations this relationship has yet to reveal. Of course, in theory she knew there would be pitfalls but actually experiencing it, as a woman in love, can feel even more devastating. Eventually, she’ll forgive him because I really don’t think Cuddy can hold a grudge, but the relationship will have a added layer of tentativeness. She may not be as emotionally open as she was initially.

http://idontcareish.livejournal.com/ Jacksam4eva

Jaim : totally agree with you. (Just wanted to say that)

LucyM

I don’t think that Cuddy’s being hurt at the end was off. IMO she was honest when she said that she doesn’t want House to change, but facing the fact that he actually hasn’t is a totally different thing. And I suppose it’s not the lie in itself that she’s angry about, but the fact that he didn’t confess later, after the case was solved. And maybe she was also disappointed in herself for not immediately understanding the truth.

But TBH, Cuddy doesn’t really seem entirely innocent to me either.
I agree with Carolyn, #25: “part of her satisfaction in this relationship is her thinking she has finally controlled him”. This is pretty evident in the scene where she thanks him for respecting her – ie for doing what she asked him to do, implying that he is doing so because they’re together. Which means not only that she cannot clearly separate their personal and professional lives (which is wrong but understandable); but also that Cuddy, probably inconsciously, thinks that she has ‘tamed’ House on the workplace because of their relationship.

Anne

I continue to be intrigued by the Cuddy/House relationship as it plays out. I agree with your statement, Jacksam4eva, that what will be sacrificed will be Cuddy’s being so emotionally open and perhaps she will be both less transparent to House and to us, although through the beautiful subtlety of Lisa Edelstein’s acting, we as viewers will still see glimpses of her true feelings.

I continue to admire House’s ability to be able to tell when she lies (I still love their exchange when House offers her food in “Now What.”)

One of the many things I value in this show is the way the writers give us windows through which to glimpse House’s psyche. He has revealing moments with Wilson–a classic being his scene with Wilson before he wrestles with his conscience alone. Now we have House’s interactions with Masters to provide us with a different kind of window to House’s character, another facet, if you will. I love the interplay between House’s character and the others. It continues to fascinate me the way the writers create so many layers to House’s character through the way he responds to and relates to the others.

Erin

I am really worried about house and cuddy relationship after this episode. I hope that eventually they will be able to work through this and continue to move forward in their relationship. I will say that although what house did was awful the fact that he felt guilty is a good change for him as never showed guilt before. Hopefully he will get his puishment and learn from it. Barbra just out of curiosity when you say “it will shade and frame their relationship going forward.” do you mean that it will stop their relationship from going forward? and if this the case do you think it will be temporary?

Leodie

27 RobF and 29 Andrea
I am not sure Masters didn’t tell Taub the truth in the end. As a person who can be more at ease sometimes interacting with my own mind than with other people, like she seems to be, I can totally empathize with her being already in a very stressful situation (meeting House) and being paralyzed by the potential awkwardness of recognizing maybe erroneously someone. In this case the knee-jerk reaction is just to clam up. I don’t know if it is really what happened, but it is a possibility.

I respectfully disagree with you Barbara on the “House’s betrayal of Cuddy’s trust is indefensible” issue. She is the one who wanted to keep professional and personal separate and didn’t except him to change. The corollary is: He can’t be trusted at work, better get used to it.
In this episode I think we’re getting a glimpse of what Cuddy would like to be versus who she really is with House. As she told him in “Now what”? She would like to love him unconditionally but already back then, her insecurities made her pocket the vicodin he’d left on the floor lest he’d change his mind and go back to it.
And now Masters. I don’t think like House implied that Masters is a younger version of Cuddy. She is a fresher version of House. A genius like him but with a more optimistic point of view and ethics. Doesn’t she represent what part of Cuddy would like him to strive to despite her assurance of the contrary? He acted as the “professional bastard” (ie would stop at nothing for his patient) she fell in love with, she just needs to reconcile with the notion.
Her being a woman in love I can understand why she would feel hurt but she will probably come to her senses. In fact I consider what happened in the last episode (House hiding the whole Rachel situation to Cuddy) to be more of a threat to their relationship than what he did in OP, since he did it to her as a lover, not as an employee. Last episode House lied for fear of rejection, this week to save his patient. Two things Cuddy could imo easily forgive if they TALKED about it. As always in relationshipland, lack of communication could become the biggest threat.

Elisabeth

As usual, I got a lot more out of this episode after a second watching. Yes, Masters is going to be fun to watch as this season goes along – at least some of her wide-eyed idealism will have to fall by the wayside as she confronts the reality of practicing medicine in a world that is not black and white. It reminds me of House’s quote about Cameron, something to the effect of, “Our little girl is growing up.” – does anyone remember the exact quote or the situation?

Masters recognized Taub as her interviewer from the start, she was just too shy and awestruck to say anything.

Does anyone else wonder if Peter Jacobson said something to TPTB like, “Please give my character something positive?” So now we see that Taub is respected enough to give interviews for Hopkins and athletic enough to go one on one with Foreman on the basketball court. Good – I was getting a little sick of the single “Taub is a loser” dimension.

Foreman… did Foreman actually LAUGH in this episode? I would definitely like to see a little more of THAT side of Foreman.

Leodie #36 is right – at SOME point House and Cuddy need to have another adult discussion about why House won’t (and shouldn’t) change and why Cuddy should embrace this, not be threatened by it.

simona

Hi everyone! Excellent review and comments.
I just want to add a thought.
The ep was great and I’m deeply in love with Martha Masters. I like her way of being outside the box with awareness, I like her true innocence that makes her look like a little girl, I like the clean look toward the world. I think Martha represents the younger side of H and C. And with this definition I refer to that period of life when still no promise has been broken, no expectation was disappointed, no heart was irreparably injured, storing an immense confidence in our own and others’ ability to change the world. The age of illusion and infinite possibilities.

Marta is an archetype, she is the pristine freshness of youth, with ideals and dreams not yet broken.
House and Cuddy, at this stage of their lives, really need a presence like Martha, they need someone to remind them “The way we were” (do you remember the movie? beautiful), because both are facing a huge challenge and they are scared, they are afraid to take risks, they don’t really know if their love story will have much strength in the legs to walk. But both want to give themselves a chance. And they’ll suffer. For H&C Martha is a flashback and they will be forced to confront with that, together and individually.

LucyM

@Simona – great post, I think you’re right about Martha being ‘the pristine freshness of youth with ideals and dreams not yet broken’. I found very interesting what House told her at the end, that he’s waiting for the moment when she’ll finally lie to a patient, basically losing her ‘innocence’.
And I really liked her personality and her interactions with House. Only, she seemed a bit ‘cartoonish’ to me in some things. I get that she’s meant to be over the top, but they exaggerated a bit IMO.

Jay

I absolutely loved this episode! I love the character of Martha and I love the fact that she’s not a stick figure like the other women on this show.

I understand where Cuddy’s coming from. She’s angry that House lied to her because I think she thought that things would be different now that she was in a relationship with him. Understandably, it’s irrational for her to think that House will change such an essential part of him just because he’s in a relationship with her (and she wouldn’t want him to), but I don’t think she’s thinking rationally right now and I think that her hurt is doing most of the talking.

“I think this was a necessary change from the first phase of their relationship, in which House’s fears pushed him to dissolve himself into her and the relationship, even losing his identity at times. It took an important stake (a patient’s life) to shake him out of that phase and, despite his great fear of losing her, he chose to stay true to the one thing that defines him more than anything: doing what he views as the RIGHT thing.”

D_B: I couldn’t agree with you more on this. You captured what I was thinking perfectly- that’s why the episode stood out for me so much.

beccalampert

i did like the episode, wasnt the best of this season but it was really great with a fresh perspective and about cuddy being hurt , the thing is that she looked at this in a girlfriend way like : ‘my boyfriend lied to me and doesnt showed me any respect ‘ she didnt look in a usually cuddy way as his boss cause thats the kind of stuff that he always do and he’ll always do . I dont think that lie is a solution but he had a strong reason to lie to her and he knew the consequences of that but he chose save a life and deal with his personal life later. And saying all this i totally agree with people that are saying that wasnt totally house’s fault , cuddy mixed thinks to ( girlfriend and boss situation) and thats why she was so hurt but they’ll figure out a way to get trough this for sure and i cant wait for epi 7 in the promo i heard cuddy saying ‘ i want you alive ‘ or something like that so im guessing that they are gonna figure out a way and this episode showed how much house is trying to make his relationship with cuddy work,cause if was in early times he wouldnt think about the consequences of lying to her and now in this epi he does ,so he after this epi i can actually say that he’s really trying and that is no doubt that he loves her and i saw this when he actually felt horrible about lying to her that he couldnt even make eye contact with her,he was broken inside,so yeah he loves her , he really cares about her, he want this relationship to work too bad and lets just wait and find out if will or not work ( i hope that work cause im completaly in favor of huddy ,i love them as a couple ).

andreeC

The only way House can salvage any trust in this relationship is to let her know why he had to lie to her. Not just to save his patient’s life (although that certainly seems justified) but to protect her and her “other baby,” the hospital should there be a lawsuit which could ultimately cost Cuddy her job and reputation which could be connected to her relationship with House clouding her judgment as Dean of Medicine. No, House needs to explain to her his reason for lying to her face was to protect her and the hospital against liability. THEN he needs to set up new ground rules with Cuddy that clarifies that what happens at PPTH stays in PPTH and has nothing to do with how he feels about her as his love. Sadly, Cuddy does have every right to feel betrayed because House led her to believe he was being honest with her BECAUSE of their relationship. I do see this as confusing ever dealing they have going forward IN THE Hospital. Cuddy will have to trust House to do what he’s always done as long as he does it with an eye toward not allowing her to take the fall or the fallout for any potential mistakes he is responsible for. Likewise, House will have to trust Cuddy to understand he is trying to do the right thing. Of course, sometimes being in love means making tough choices. And House may one day have to choose to put Cuddy over his own need to be right all the time (not at the expense of a patient) but at the expense of a principle he has always held on to. It is perfectly likely that Cuddy’s hurt over the personal betrayal will cause her to retreat from him a little and he should accept that as she struggles to find footing in this new dynamic too. Still Cuddy and House need to come together over how the hospital/employment dynamics must not be confused with the personal relationship dynamic. It’s going to be very difficult for both of them. But I trust House is smart enough and Cuddy is savvy enough to find a way to make it work. Given the alternative (leaving each other) they have to choose with being miserable alone or being miserable (every now and then) together.

Heather

Also, just something that’s bothering me as well that I haven’t seen anyone else mention…

All this talk of “sausages” and “buns”, etc etc…do real people talk this way? At work? I sure don’t. I don’t know anyone else who does.

I can maybe imagine House doing it, because he seems to enjoy using vulgarity to occassionally get a rise out of other people, but Cuddy? I’m not seeing it.

At the price of a cheap laugh, I think they are slightly cheapening her character. It’s not the first time, though…

slurredspeech

“The only way House can salvage any trust in this relationship is to let her know why he had to lie to her.”

Cuddy’s not an idiot. I think she gets it without having it drawn for her.

Because the reason was in fact House getting the right diagnosis and curing the patient. Your reasoning that he’d done it for Cuddy and the hospital is romantic and all, and if it were someone else other than House we’re talking about, perhaps it would make for a nice altruistic gesture that would make it all go away.

However, this is House we’re talking about and his motives and priorities have always been clear. It’s what makes him such an intriguing character and the reason we love him so much.

What I’d find interesting would be this relationship being written without compromising either of the characters; to actually stick with the promise of the S7 opener of not changing House and in fact make the relationship work, albeit in an unconventional imperfect way.

Ideal two-dimensional romances and characters who Do The Right Thing and live up to some higher moral standards are hardly scarse. House as a character along with this relationship cannot benefit from gravitating towards that.

Flo

Hi everyone. Good review and great comments as always.
Just three things.

@Heather (#43), people on TV or in movies don’t ever talk like people in real lives and they shouldn’t. One of the first thing that cinema students learn about script writing is: “do not make your characters talk like in real life”.

First, it’s because in real life people tend to be a bit more confused than on tv. We tend to take more time to explain ourselves.
In film and TV dialogues are here to make the storyline go further but dialogues can’t be just or too much explanatory otherwsise it’s flat, dull and boring.

Seconds, “House” is a very verbal show (not as verbal as “The West Wing” but still). It’s normal for Cuddy who always been witty and isn’t the last woman to participate in banter to talk like that. You’re right, in real life, people don’t talk like that but on TV show and especially this one they do. It didn’t shock me. Cuddy just used the kind of talk that House uses and likes to make a point. It kept the dialogue short and alert.

Also, House’s lie may not be undefensible, I understand Barbara’s point and I’m surprised to see many people talking about the first lie and not the second one. I don’t think Cuddy is disappointed in House for the fake blood test at all. She knows this is the kind of thing he does regularly. She’s disappointed because he lied about the lie, using his personal connection to her in doing so.
I believe that @AndreeC (#42) nailed it perfectly: “Sadly, Cuddy does have every right to feel betrayed because House led her to believe he was being honest with her BECAUSE of their relationship. I do see this as confusing ever dealing they have going forward IN THE Hospital”. I totally agree with this though I’m pretty sure that in retrospect she’ll be able to understand better what happened and to come to terms with it.

About Martha Masters (what a stupid name, BTW), I kind of like her but I’m not that fond of her. I’m like Delia Beatrice, I find her totally stereotypical. Her scenes with House & Cuddy were great but at the same time I found her irritating. Don’t get me wrong I like the fact that she is really idealistic and the “by the book no matter what” thing was interesting but how can a supposedly genius see the world in strict black and white?
At first, she sounds like a new Cam but she ends up being Mini anti-House. It’s interesting but she is even worse than Cameron! I liked Cameron because she wasn’t just and archetype, so her speeches about ethic and right and wrong fitted very well. I don’t see it so far with Masters.
I think she has potential but unless the writers make an effort to layer her character, there’s a good chance she’ll end up just getting on my nerves.

It was an okay episode. I liked the patient and how his story fitted in the episode.

HouseMDFan

Flo – Just to comment on House’s “second lie”. It is in the same scene and Cuddy makes it about personal matters in the first place, not House himself. She decides to see it as a sign for personal trust and he doesn’t correct her and rather awkwardly plays along, because he has no choice: he couldn’t have come clean in the same scene and before starting treatment. I agree that he could have done it afterwards, though.

And re Masters – I had the opposite reaction. I think she is far less annoying than Cameron (so far at least!), because she doesn’t have Cameron’s judgemental streak. She isn’t as emotional as Cameron and comes to her point from a much more intellectual perspective, whereas Cameron was all about caring and sympathizing with the patients.

Heather

@Flo: I get what you are saying about how TV characters don’t talk like people do in real life. But I still have a problem with the scene. Examining my reaction a bit more closely, I think the talk about “sausages” etc in the workplace is vulgar. Do I expect House to be vulgar? Yes. Cuddy? No.

Again, minor point and nothing to get spun up about in the grand scheme of things. But I am annoyed with this as representative of a larger problem… I believe there is a lack of consistency with how Cuddy is portrayed.

Susan

Comments in no specific order:

I think Taub is now my favorite team member. I like his sarcasm and especially the scene in jail where he got so upset by the prisoner going to the bathroom behind him. Taub had his head in his hands and kept whining about it. Very cute.

Martha Masters was also good – if a little too moralistic. I like her nerdiness and especially the fact that she’s not gorgeous like all the other females on the show. Thirteen is good too – not so much in episodes of her personal life but her coolness and confidence while doing differential diagnosis scenes. I don’t know how 13 and Martha would mesh or if the producers would keep both of them on.

House’s motto is “Everybody lies” so Cuddy can’t really complain. I liked that he stood up to her for his patient’s sake but at the same time he WAS bothered by his decision and how it would affect their relationship. And remember how Cuddy hurt House by lying about her daughter’s baby naming ceremony, and lying about Lucas babysitting at the hotel conference. She’s hurt him in alot of ways by lying that seem worse than what he did in “Office Politics”, which had a higher purpose.

As Heather pointed out – Cuddy’s sausage and buns conversation was on the vulgar side, and I read a comment earlier on FB that she’s looking sluttier by the week. Can’t the wardrobe people make her sexy without looking ridiculous? (But I still love her character, don’t get me wrong)!
Isabelle misses their flirtatiousness and eye contact – as do I. Let them look into each others eyes and show some love. The first episode was great with that but since then it’s alot of talk about sex.

Lastly, Dr. House was back to form in this episode and I enjoyed him.

Flo

HouseMDFan (#46) thanks for the reply. On Cuddy: I understand your point and it’s a very valid one. OTHH, House could have just said that he simply thought that it made sense to just prove the Hep C thus making his decision just professional and not at all personal. After all, it did make sense because in case of a lawsuit, the hospital needs something to defend itself. He could have still lied to Cuddy about the blood test but not going along with the personal stuff and send her a message. But you’re right, she’s the one who brought the personal aspect of it.

About Masters and Cameron: I agree with you about the main differences about the two characters. I too like the fact that Masters is more intellectual than emotional (reminds me of myself lol). She is an equal opponent to House intellectually speaking and I like that about her.
Cameron could be annoying but she brought interesting counter points and she was a far more layered character than Masters seems to be able to become. However, it was just the first episode with that character and she does have a lot of potential. I just think she will really need to be written more subtlety than in this episode. So I guess it’s wait and see now.

Heather (#47), I see what you mean. I just wanted to bring some explanation about the “talking like in real life” thing since that’s the reason why I didn’t have a particular problem with that scene.
That being said, you’re absolutely right: it is vulgar.

http://idontcareish.livejournal.com/ Jacksam4eva

1 – “House’s betrayal is indefensible”

Everyone’s arguing over that one sentence and I don’t understand why. House (both the character and the whole show actually) has never searched for excuses or apologies. That’s why he won’t explain his behavior to Cuddy : because he doesn’t think it’s needed. According to him, only results matter, facts and what they lead up to. He’s not trying to say “I did lie, but I did it to save a patient so you should forgive me” he just admits he did lie; and that’s what makes all the difference. That’s why he thought this through for so long in his office : because he knew he couldn’t regret it and/or ask for a second chance afterwards. Cuddy might mind about his good intentions but House doesn’t. And this is probably one of their biggest differences.

2 – House is not a younger version of Masters.

Yes he is a genius but he has really good social skills. Or at least he could have if he wanted to. He’s a really good manipulator and he actually enjoys pissing them off, does it on purpose. Masters is more like Temperance Brennan at the beginning of Bones : she doesn’t really understand the world she’s living in. And we can’t really say that House was like that when he was younger because we know from that he was already like that at that time (stole his friend’s girlfriend to prove a point in college, didn’t he?). He never had the ideas Masters has on life. He was corrupted right from the start.
As for Cuddy, she’s smart but she’s not a genius and she’s never been socially awkward either.
Finally, talking about Cameron, I never liked (and not because of her crush on House, I think that was great) her character but I do like Master’s. Just like everyone said, her intelectual capacities make her an untypical character. I don’t believe that Masters is a « newer » or « younger » version of anybody in the show.

3 – Sausages and conversations

Flo (#45) I totally agree with everything you said. And I also would like to add : do we really want House and Cuddy to talk this through? I was recently complaining that their relationship in the beginning of this season was made out of too many attempts to « make it work » and to « talk this through » and terribly lacked the passion, the destructive addiction they used to feel for each other. Now thanks to this episode, we finally got it. I, personally, do not care at all about a three hours conversation they could have together while sitting on her couch if they don’t end up fighting at some point. This works in RL but on TV it’s boring.

You know, I’ve just realized that everyone has been saying that their relationship is a disaster waiting to happen for sooo long that I actually think I could be disappointed if they talked and made it work. I feel like a traitor saying that but I want them to break up. Not now but eventually.

Dmcky

“2 – House is not a younger version of Masters.”

Do you mean to say that Masters is not a younger version of House? Think something got transposed there…

HouseMDFan

Jacksam4eva (is that a SG1 reference by the way?) – I agree that House himself wouldn’t usually try to defend himself or give a damn about his own intentions. But everybody else in his life does (remember Wilson in “Whac-A-Mole”?) and so do we as viewers. Nonetheless, you are right, a lie is a lie is a lie. That’s a fact.

And I very much agree about House never ever having been as naive as Masters. I’m a bit on the fence about having social skills “if he wanted to”, though. NOT wanting to is so much the core of his character that it’s rather impossible to make that distinction.

ruthinor

Interesting review and conversation:

I wouldn’t say that House was “lacking in social skills” in the same manner as Martha. House is a misanthrope. He is perfectly capable of socializing. He chooses not to do so, with the exception of his close friend and lover, largely because he just doesn’t like people. I think the comparison of Martha to “Bones” is a valid one. They both lack social skills, largely because they are too wrapped up in their own thoughts. Bones is much more condescending towards her inferiors. I don’t think she means to hurt people, she is just oblivious. Martha is more awkward than Bones and more uncomfortable in social situations. While she obviously relishes using her mental abilities, I think Martha is less comfortable than Bones in being “the smartest one in the room”. With House around, she’ll have more competition, and maybe become more comfortable in her role.

Sera G

With all due respect to Jacksam4eva #50, I really hope that House/Cuddy do not ever break up. That kind of writing is what drives me crazy, away from TV and gives writers the mistaken belief that no couple on television can succeed.
For six years the writers have taken House on this journey to where he can admit he wants contact with someone, that the someone is Cuddy and that he wants very much for it to work. I refuse to accept that he/we have gone through all of this turmoil and suffering to just have it all fall apart.
What happens then? Will House relapse and go back on Vicodin? Will he hide himself away as he had done in “Pilot”? Do we then watch him spiral down into further self destructive behavior? I don’t want to watch that. To me that would be negating all of House’s hard work, his attempt to reconnect and the reparataion of his sense of self worth.
The writers have taken a chance with this relationship. We all know that it will not be easy, there will be missteps along the way (just as there is in real life) but to me it is soap-opera writing when the characters come together, break up find someone else and repeat these steps over and over again. The House team is above that.
What happens at the hospital? Will there be anger and vindictiveness between them? I really do not want to watch these two tear each other apart. Even at the worst of their sarcasm and sniping, the viewer always knew there was respect at the core.
I think it is in character for House to lie to Cuddy (glad he had to give it serious thought, as that is a sign of how much he loves her) and yet, did it anyway. It is human that she would be hurt. As his boss, Cuddy knows what he is like. As his girlfriend, she hopes for more honesty and respect. Why are people surprised that she is disappointed in him? Anyone in love hopes for and wants the loved one to put them first, even if that is unrealistic. Cuddy is a smart woman and would accept why House had to lie
Hugh Laurie said in interviews that it would be “a bumpy ride.” He also said it isn’t a given that the relationship will end in failure. I hang on to that.

A quick comment about Amber Tamblyn’s character, it seems that geniuses are either portrayed as arrogant and superior as Sheldon on Big Bang Theory (House?) or as befuddled. I rather enjoyed the “fish out of water” aspect of Martha’s character. She is the kind of super bright kid who would have been the delight of teachers, the butt of jokes and so removed from all of it. I like that she is a bit in awe of House, wants to fit in with the team and yet keeps true to her ethics. I think she will be a unique character and different from anyone else we have seen.
Regarding House’s jibe at Cuddy, I beg to differ, she might have felt a lot like Martha, especially as a younger girl; a serious student, perhaps not as pretty and petite as she is now. (That might explain the more figure revealing clothing and her “soft spot for smart girls.”) Cuddy knows he needs a female on the team (not just for legal reasons) and she knows that House needs a challenge and someone against whom he can test himself. Cuddy is always watching out for him.

The comments here are truly refreshing as was Master’s genuine innocence. She’s a welcome addition to House. LE’s acting just keeps getting better, always exceptional and now even more natural.

Andrea

I’d agree that a young House would have been far more worldly and cynical than Masters seems to be. The similarity is probably in their level of genius and how it isolates them from the rest of the people around them.

Martha is also not a Cameron clone, despite what some people elsewhere are saying. Cameron led with her emotions personally and professionally. She couldn’t tell someone she was dying because it would hurt her; she was attracted to House in part because he was wounded and she wanted to heal him; she married her first husband because he was dying, etc. etc. Martha’s ethics are thought out and she leads with her intellect. She thought the patient would make the right choice (chemo instead of steroids) because it was logical; she thought the patient would not turn House in after she revealed he’d faked a medical test and lied to his boss to save the patient. Why would he? It wouldn’t be logical. She believes in giving patients all the information they have available and seems to trust they will make the right decision, the one SHE thinks is logical. She seems surprised when they don’t. Her emotions are messy and get her into trouble, so she will probably ignore them or stuff them. House may understand her on that level even though he thinks it’s stupid to tell patients everything because he knows better than they do and they’ll make the wrong choice. House only gives people a choice when it comes down to the wire.

Susan

Sera G #43 – Thanks for standing up for House/Cuddy.

Delia_Beatrice

My dear fellow fans,

I hope Barbara does not mind me sharing this information:

If you think they deserve it, please cast your votes for “House” for the one award that is in our power to give them: the 2011 People’s Choice Awards.

You can vote as either a member or a guest and you can vote as many times as you want. Personally, i voted several times each day during the nominations phase, not just because i am convinced they deserve it, but also because i view this as one of the rare opportunities to express my admiration and appreciation.
The website is this

Thank you for your attention and i apologize if anybody minds me posting this here.

Sera G

Dear Susan, #57,
Thank you. I get tired of the negativity.
I am glad I am not alone in wanting things to work out.

Sera G

Delia_Beatrice, #58.
I, too, have been voting. (Several times.) I agree, this is really the only imput fans have to reflect our admiration.

Delia_Beatrice

What a great many wonderful comments here. I have enjoyed reading them tremendously.

I fully agree with Andrea (#23), Sera G (#30), Jaim (#31), Jay (#40) on their take on the House/Cuddy/lie/hurt equation.

RobF (#27): that is an extremely interesting take on a subject that can be (and has been for centuries) the point of endless debate. I liked your Tolstoi reference.

SeraG (#54): you know i agree with you on Cuddy and House staying together.
There is an article in a Spanish magazine (will look it up, if you’d like), in which Hugh Laurie says that their relationship is like a “conviction”. I interpreted that to mean that they are addicted to each other and connected in such deep ways, that there is no way they can escape their love and need for each other.

Now that the walking-on-egg-shells phase is over, they can explore ways to be together while being free to be themselves – ultimately, this is the ideal in any relationship: transcending your limited solitude while being allowed to be yourself, finding perfect freedom not inside the iron circle of individuality, but inside the self-transcending union with another.

There’s the old parable of the snake who asks the turtle for a ride on the turtle’s back across the river. The turtle makes the snake promise not to bite him. When they get into the middle of the river the snake bites the turtle and they both go down, but the turtle has enough strength to ask, “Why did you do it?” The snake simply says, “You knew I was a snake when you gave me a ride.” Cuddy knew House was a manipulator and liar when she got involved with him, even promised that she didn’t want him to change. I don’t care if she’s upset because he led her to believe that he hadn’t lied…Cuddy knew he was a snake when she broke up with Lucas. This is why Cuddy and House is a bust and positively boring. We all know Cuddy is too anal to be with House and lied through her teeth when she told him that she didn’t want him to change.
I do like Masters because now House can’t always say he’s the smartest person in the room and that’s got to have some effect on his ego and actions. I hope she holds her own against him and even occasionally one ups him. It will be good to watch House scramble to be the alpha.

byzantine

eeh, gorblime2, you’re right, of course, but only in a very general way. parables, sayings, whatever you wish to call those (I know a similar one but with different animals–a frog and a scorpion) are way too essentializing, and House, the show, has long demonstrated that it can break the trend, the structure, and be subtle, and nuanced. There is much more to the House-Cuddy relationship than the snake-turtle analogy you are bringing in.

Derdriui

byzantine:

All true. But the fact that the relationship is boring? That’s a little hard to escape. Cuddy’s admin. And as much as she indulges House and is vicariously approaching medicine with new perspectives via House, she’s still the management.

House is supposed to be different and exciting. What’s exciting about Cuddy? Except for the wardrobe, but that’s more LE than the character. Surely a show about new perspectives would want House in a less hormonal relationship?

>.> Apparently not, I know, but this Huddy nonsense is one of the more boring (and therefore absurd – they’re trying to make watchable TV!) routes taken by the show.

They have nothing soft in common. They’re both hard-fightin’ people and their relationship has a fundamental conflict: House creates and challenges and is about substance; Cuddy’s vocation is in getting things in form. Hugh Laurie used to talk about people wanting to fix House… I don’t think it was with approval.

More relevantly: This stuff about Cuddy being betrayed, it’s ridiculous. This is a conflict between them as people, not anything to do with this screwy romance they’re chucked in. House can try to be normal but the character reacts to normal as if it’s boring (at least until this season). And Cuddy controls, she needs stability. In their professional life, their ideas and mesh and it’s an intellectual battle.

When it gets personal, it gets hormonal and ugly.

simona

@Derdriui “They have nothing soft in common. They’re both hard-fightin’ people and their relationship has a fundamental conflict: House creates and challenges and is about substance; Cuddy’s vocation is in getting things in form.”

This is the challenge and the bet. Someone (me, for example) could be interested to see the development of this relationship as well as the development of interpersonal relationships House has established with other characters.

simona

Sorry but wanting to be sure that my words are not misinterpreted, I add: I love House and Cuddy but I also liked Stacy and Lydia. Just saying.
I especially love House MD and I would never think to stop watching just because a storyline makes me disappointed. I think, or rather I hope, that everything is displayed makes sense.

Dmcky

Derdriui,

You make good points, but is this not precisely the point of the writing team? How can 2 strong willed people with fundamental differences coexists in a personal relationship? In my opinion this is the stuff good TV is made of. Boring is hardly the word I’d use to describe Huddy in season 7. Watching House stay the same lonely, angry, detached SOB, who is incapable of forming human relationships week in and week out, now that would be boring. After Office Politics, there’s one question on everyone’s mind, “how will Cuddy handle this?”..Most want to know, most are enticed..Boring does not entice..just my thoughts

Susan

Voted twice, then felt guilty about it. But now I guess I’ll vote some more.
But – can I vote for both House and Wilson?

Delia_Beatrice

Susan (#69): Why did you feel guilty? They specifically mention that everybody can vote as many times as they wish, so of course, everybody does so – us, as well as people voting for the other competitors.
Yes, you can vote for both House and Wilson, but only one will win. I chose to vote for House – he is my personal choice, if it comes to watching House as a doctor versus Wilson as a doctor, my preference is clear. But for as lond as “House MD” gets the award, as it will through both House or Wilson winning, i think we’re all ok:)

Delia_Beatrice

@Dmcky (#68): i fully agree. “A Pox On Our House” looks FASCINATING, from all i have read and seen.

@gorblime2 (#63): i respect your opinion, but i need to say that i fully disagree on Cuddy “lying through her teeth” when she said she didn’t want House to change. I believe that not only did she mean it at that time, but also that she has proved her understanding and deep unconditional acceptance of House, through countless meaningfull deeds over the years. And i also believe that she will prove it in their relationship too – maybe even very soon.

She is a very complex character and i find that it makes a lot of sense that she got somewhat false expectations during this initial phase, due to her own psychological particularities and based on House’s behavior. But i believe she has every ability to process her natural pain and disappointment and then work hard to put into action her words of acceptance and love.

@Derdriui (#65): i respectfully disagree on your take on Cuddy. I think there is infinitely more to her character than her being the management, all about form instead of substance and a control freak – which are all true to some extent, but they are not the whole truth – not by far, in my opinion.

I view Cuddy as a very interesting character. An ambitious over-achiever, bright, beautiful, insecure and lonely, honest, authentic and blunt, very fair and correct (Cuddy has always been the one character who was willing to admit when she was wrong, who was capable to give credit to whom it justly should go to).

Most of all, she shares with House the courage and absolute determination of doing the right thing, regardless of the risks and personal costs – but she does so without House’s bitterness and cynicism. It is one of the most important reasons why Cuddy understands House so very well and has always been able to provide him with both the necessary support and the necessary boundaries for all these years.

Cuddy has the strength of looking herself full in the face and admitting the sometimes unpleasant truths, which goes hand in hand with her honest and direct bluntness in her interactions with others, which i personally love about her.

She is still more of a mystery to us than other characters. For instance, we know that she loved her father dearly and that he died when she was relatively young, and also that she had sex with her father’s best friend (before or after his death, we don’t know), but things have never been explained further. I am looking forward to seeing more about her family and to watching her character develop further this season.

Again, i am aware of your opinion, from our previous conversations, and i respect it as such (not trying to convince you of anything, i know you feel strongly about it:). I am really not trying to start up a debate of any sorts, i just wanted to express my view on the character of Cuddy.

Huddy757

I think on so many levels Cuddy is scared to death that House will slip back into old patterns so she is trying to find some ground that she feels safe with him.
I don’t think it’s that she wants to control House. I think she just wants to limit the temptations and the things that might draw him back into old patterns. She is in love with him and she wants to be with him. What she has got to do is just trust him and open her heart and take a risk.
We can never control what our partner is going to do. If we try to control them we will most assuredly drive them away and wear ourselves out and the love that we feel.
In House’s defense he had the team run tests all night trying to get a false postitive.
In “Unplanned Parenthood” he kept an eye on Rachel until he knew she was ok.
House’s father taught him early that being less than perfect would not be tolerated and that love is not unconditional. House is afraid to open up with Cuddy because he is afraid that she cannot accept less than perfect because the only person he has ever come close to being honest with is Wilson.
The question is can they open up and discuss their fears with each other or will they let their fears destroy this amazing love they have?
Again, in “Now What” Cuddy said she didn’t want House to change. I think that is true, but she wants to know that he is in this and committed and that he will not walk away from her or go back to being the old HOuse.
She is just scared and I think that is normal. They just need to communicate.

Sera G

Dmcky,#-68- Love you!
Delia_Beatrice,#71- Love You! Love You!
Huddy#72-You wrote what I have been thinking.
I think Cuddy is a fascinating character, almost as much a paradox as House. I hope that her backstory and character is given more exploration this year; either in the context of her relationship with House or on its own. I think “5to9″ gave a lot of insight into her way of working, people skills and dedication to the hospital (which we already knew). I think that episode went a long way in to showing more of why House admires her (Not just the wardrobe!) They have many traits in common and neither one wants to lose or will give up. I love that she is smart, ambitious, funny, sarcastic and a match for House. She is also vulnerable and IMO, she feels she must always keep control.
Can’t wait for Monday. Trying to stay away from anything not shown on TV.

Dmcky

Back atcha Sera G! But come on, you know you wanna watch the sneak peeks..LOL! I must confess, I did, couldn’t wait, and loved it..But perhaps the wait is a bit more unbearable now that I’ve been teased, so you might be right..Oh well, I’ve made my bed, etc etc..

Delia_Beatrice

@Sera G: You are a darling and i love you too. And all your comments:)

@Dmcky: i am a spoiler addict and i cannot live without watching every promo and sneak peak and reading every bit of spoiler. I cannot even remember how i experienced the episodes before doing this, but what i can say is that i still live each of them fully.

@Huddy757 (#72) and Sera (#73): i agree with both of you on Cuddy.
Huddy757, i agree that its her fears that are the primary reason for her disappointment (the fears that made her hide and throw out the Vicodin bottles). But i also feel that she does crave some control over House, subconsciously – which is very natural, given who she is (as Sera said, a very powerful and yet hugely vulnerable woman, who needs to feel she is in control), given her fears and past frustrations.
I also believe that Cuddy being who she is (and who i love so much ), she will examine this need of hers and she will find a way to allow him to be himself.

I am not sure i want them to discuss everything through anymore. There are some things that i want them to talk about openly, but what i crave for is to witness the implicit awareness that they cannot live without each other. They will constantly be confronted with their conflicts and each of them’s inherent limitations, but beneath it all, i want to see that passion and addiction and deep connection, that, wordlessly, keep them tied together, handcuffed together (have you guys seen the photo in the latest TV Guide? – that speeks volumes!!!).

Ruvy

Barabara, my son came home with a memory stick with season 2 of this show and inflicted it upon us. I know you review it and have a loyal audience, but this show didn’t really impress me a whole lot. The fellow who plays House is a good character actor – I could only hear a trace of his British accent. The show is well written. But in all truth, the protagonist is an asshole who should have died in whatever accident it was that caused him to have a limp. I had more sympathy for the cockroaches I killed when we lived in Jerusalem.

ruthinor

Ruvy…you have sympathy?

Ruvy

I’m not part of the “loyal audience”, Ruthinor. I thought I made that clear. ;o))

huddy757

@DB – I absolutely love the way you think. It seems very similar to my thought pattern. I definitely want to see that deep physical connection. I don’t want them to just have sex. I want to see them connect once and for all. They have to dispel these fears though and not give it power to squash one of the most intimate connections we have witnessed. They do everything but just say what they are afraid of. Give the fear a voice and then let the love and the passion tear the fear to shreds.
We the audience see that House feels bad about lying to her and we see that she is afraid that maybe she isn’t enough and she is worried about his leg.
I believe the next episode their love is going to be seen by them (I mean house and Cuddy). Everyone around them can see how they feel about each other. Now they need to see it.
@Sera – I also hope that they give Cuddy more place this year. sh eis a great actress and an asset to this show. Beautiful woman.
@Dmcky – I love spoilers too. They are always a little scary.

ruthinor

Ruvy, you DID make that perfectly clear. I found your post to be offensive. I hope my response is equally clear!

Sera G

Hello, Dmcky #74 and Delia_Beatrice #75,
Thanks for the kind words. It is fun to have a meeting of like minds.
Not to start a debate, merely to keep the conversation going; I want nothing to do with spoilers. Being a technophobe, I was completely unaware of Fox’s site or any other places online discussing House for the first 2 seasons. During season 3, I started looking at the Fox site and a few commentators. In retrospect, I am glad I didn’t know what was being discussed and reavealed online. I would have hated watching “House’s Head/Wilson’s Heart” with any prior knowledge. It was great watching those amazing episodes ‘clean’. I finally started searching out information and details during season 5 when the buzz was that there would be development with House and Cuddy. I confess to being avid in getting details. What cured me was watching Fox’s clips for “Let Them Eat Cake.” The scenes were portrayed as flirtatious and funny. We all know they were anything but;.(Cuddy’s disappointment and the boob grab). Since then, I have tried to avoid
the promos because they seem to be out of context and often different than depicted.
Of course, this is just my opinion, and I know others disagree. It is interesting how we all anticipate the show in our own way.
Huddy757, I agree, everyone else has always seen what they (House/Cuddy) mean to each other. I want them to come to a place in their relationship and interactions where the trust is implicit. Remember how in earlier episodes you just knew that Cuddy ‘got’ House. They almost had a shorthand with each other. I want that to reflect in their actions, gestures, and when they look into each other’s eyes. I think it is still too new and each is so afraid to do anything that will ‘rock the boat’. I have faith in their love, in their commitment and in their intelligence.
It is crazy, I certainly don’t want this season to end (especially badly!). Yet, I find myself wanting to rush to the finale to find out what happens. I am like that with a really good book. However, in keeping with my spoiler-phobe motto, I never peek at the ending!
How long until Monday?

CaraThom

Barabara, my son came home with a memory stick with season 2 of this show and inflicted it upon us.

DO YOU KNOW BARABARA OR BARBARA IN THE CORRECT SPELLING?

I know you review it and have a loyal audience,

MAYBE YOU DO KNOW BARBARA?

but this show didn’t really impress me a whole lot.The fellow who plays House is a good character actor – I could only hear a trace of his British accent.

SO YOU KNOW ENOUGH THAT HE IS A GOOD CHARACTER ACTOR AND THAT HE IS BRITISH, DID YOU KNOW THIS BEFORE YOUR SON BROUGHT HOME THE MEMORY STICK?

The show is well written. But in all truth, the protagonist is an asshole who should have died in whatever accident it was that caused him to have a limp. I had more sympathy for the cockroaches I killed when we lived in Jerusalem.

YOU ARE ANNOUNCING YOUR OPINION OF SEASON TWO TO FANS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON SEASON SEVEN???
FARE ENOUGH YOU DON’T LIKE THE SHOW BUT WHY POST YOUR VIEW ON THE MOST RECENT COMMENTS WHEN YOU HAVE ONLY SEEN SEASON 2?
MAYBE BARBARA IS YOUR FRIEND AND SHE RECOMMENDED THE SHOW TO YOU BUT STILL E-MAIL HER OR TWITTER HER INSTEAD OF MAKING A SILLY STATEMENT ON THIS BOARD.

Sera G

Delia_Beatrice, not to be a pest, but I just finished voting for People’s Choice, again!!!! and it reminded me of your comment #75, about the TV Guide photo.
First of all, I think it was great that they were selected Hottest Couple. Of course, because it is true, but also, TV Guide is always about the newest, flashiest thing, so for them to acknowledge House/Cuddy is a testament to the work that HL/LE are doing, it is not just us uberfans.
Secondly, the photo was a hoot! They managed to look passionate and funny at the same time. If you saw the TV Guide from a few weeks ago with them on the cover, it was the same idea. They combine sexy with humor in a unique way. I think that is what first intriqued me; the way they could snark and snarl at each other and you knew there were layers and depths to their feelings. I also love that it is a relationship of equals. To paraphrase what you said, they are so tied to each other and need/want each other so much that they WILL find a way to make it all work.

El Bicho

what’s in the correct spelling of “fair”?

Ruvy

I made a comment here because I thought the show stunk, I see soooooooooooooooooo many comments about it, and wanted current viewers to see that opinion. And yes, I do know Barbara. She’s a nice lady, a good reviewer who treats her audience well. But at three in the morning, one is liable to make careless spelling mistakes.

And, you sensitive babies, I don’t care what you think. I wanted you to know what I THINK. Welcome to the end of the thought process.

Elena

@Ruvy
Wow. It’s rude. And now what?

Grace

Ruvy-No one here gives a sh*t what you think. GO AWAY NASTY AS_!
Flo-Martha Masters is the name of Amber’s best friend who is also very smart and a dr. thus the name. FOX had to get the real Martha Masters’ permission to use her name.
Haven’t decided about Martha yet…a bit too much of her in this episode AND, EVERYBODY LIES.
Taub-just want him to go away..13 too.
Cuddy-She didn’t want House to change-he didn’t. What’s her gripe?? Does she not admire him for the amount of patients he saves? Does she not say he is the best? Well then, can’t always get what you want.
House-I’m glad he thought long and hard on lying to Cuddy and I’m glad he chose the way he did. He’s been doing that for 7 years….hasn’t Cuddy noticed that he always lies to get what he needs for his patients?
I’m done. That Ruvy put me in a bad mood.

Ruvy

Grace, and the rest of you whining over my comments, you put yourself in a bad mood. I told you the show was well written and the lead actor a good character actor. I stated I had no sympathy for his character, and in my opinion, the show stunk. That is all I said.

If this causes you to put yourselves in a bad mood, you are just sensitive babies. I have said what I sought to say. Full stop.

YOU have been nasty to me, and I have been nasty in return. You don’t like it? Learn from the sage, Hillel. “What is hateful to you, do not do to others.”

I bid you all a good day. Goodbye.

Delia_Beatrice

@Huddy757 and SeraG: a true pleasure indeed, thank you both for the joy of this conversation:)

@Huddy757: i most certainly agree that unspoken fears have a gigantic destructive power. And i agree, the healthy way to deal with them is to openly discuss them. But what i meant was that i’d like to also witness moments in which, after showing us their fears, we also see them just swallowing those fears and doubts and jumping all in, simply overwhelmed by the greatness and depth of their passion and addiction and need for each other. I think that witnessing BOTH the awareness of their fears and limitations AND the awareness of their inescapable union would be a really mind-blowing spectacle.

@SeraG: “everyone else has always seen what they (House/Cuddy) mean to each other. I want them to come to a place in their relationship and interactions where the trust is implicit. Remember how in earlier episodes you just knew that Cuddy ‘got’ House. They almost had a shorthand with each other. I want that to reflect in their actions, gestures, and when they look into each other’s eyes. I think it is still too new and each is so afraid to do anything that will ‘rock the boat’.”

You have captured what i had in mind, in very lovely words:) That is what i am longing for: the implicit connection that transcends EVERYTHING.

Sera, i know what you mean about spoilers. I am actually a pretty recent fan, i only got hooked 2 and a half years ago. The first 4 seasons i watched on DVD, in a row, with no spoilers at all, and it was a blessed, infinitely captivating experience.
But when i started watching season 5, each episode at a time, waiting for a week or more to “find out” what happens next, my hunger became more and more intense… I actually made it the whole season with no spoilers at all, i barely read or watched interviews, but after “Under My Skin” aired, i lost my head so badly, i spent that week hooked to the internet, devouring all promos, sneak peeks and spoilers i could find. I kept that addiction up after that – i just cannot escape the need to have a tiny bit of inkling about where it’s heading. I am aware that this is, more than anything else, the classical post-traumatic stress disorder that Huddy fans share:)))))) After all we’ve been through, our fears are really hard to bear and spoilers give me a tiny illusion that i might be able to prepare myself for bad news.

I love that photo in the TV Guide too. And i love its significance, as well as its playfulness. You are so right, that IS the essence of Huddy: the incredibly charming superficial layers of flirtation, bickering, humor and fun, doubled by the profond layers of deep, intense, exclusive and complex emotional and intellectual connection.

Oh yeah! I am voting several times each day and will keep doing so. It is among the very few ways in which i can express my admiration and gratitude to them, and i plan to use it up:)

huddy757

@DB – But what I meant was that I’d like to also witness moments in which, after showing us their fears, we also see them just swallowing those fears and doubts and jumping all in, simply overwhelmed by the greatness and depth of their passion and addiction and need for each other.

Beautifully said. The want and need for each other has been built up for 6 seasons and they need to let them have the moment that they see past their fears and just and experience their hearts. I am hoping that after the next episode this will begin the passion that lies beneath the surface of these two amazing people.

@Sera – You also speak the things that are in my mind. The spoilers do scare you a bit but in reality it would be such a incredible waste to break this time-tested love up. this has been a back story in this series almost from the beginning. It would be heart-breaking for them to end it.

ruthinor

I may be alone in this opinion, but I don’t think that the PCAs are worth much. No contest should allow folks to vote more than once. The best technology wins, not the crowd favorites.

V

Can’t stand Masters, hope she’s gone soon. Somewhere in the beginning of the relationship, Cuddy said she knew House would keep lying to her and that sometimes it was necessary. This was around the time she couldn’t find anyone to take over his supervision. Don’t recall the exact wording…

Sera G

Thanks for the response back from Delia_B.
and Huddy757.
I can’t wait for tomorrow night and “A Pox on Our House.” We will all have fresh comments, thoughts, smiles and worries to share. Isn’t this fun, sharing the House world together?

RobF

“Isn’t this fun, sharing the House world together?”

————-

Yes it is! Thanks to everyone who posts thought-provoking comments here! And many thanks to Barbara for the great reviews that attract such a community!

Scog

I agree with V. I can’t stand Masters, either. She’s totally annoying. Also, her “brilliance” detracts from House’s own genius. The way this script was written makes it seem as though he really needed her help. This weakens House’s character, which is all about his being smarter than anyone else on the show. Bad move.